Method and system for multispectral beam combiner
A spectral beam combining system includes a plurality of input fibers and a prism having a curved input surface. The plurality of input fibers are attached to the curved input surface. The spectral beam combining system also includes an immersion grating defined on a second surface of the prism, a protective cap disposed over the immersion grating, and an output surface.
1. A spectral beam combining system comprising:
a plurality of input fibers;
a prism body comprising:
an input port having an input surface, wherein the plurality of input fibers are in optical communication with the input surface;
an immersion grating defined on a second surface of the prism body and operable to receive collimated light beams;
a third surface of the prism body comprising a collimating surface operable to collimate light received from the input surface to produce the collimated light beams and direct the collimated light beams to the immersion grating; and
an output surface; and
a protective cap disposed over the immersion grating.
2. The spectral beam combining system of claim 1 wherein each of the plurality of input fibers are operable to deliver a laser beam characterized by a different wavelength.
3. The spectral beam combining system of claim 2 wherein the input surface comprises a collimating interface for partially collimating each of the laser beams.
4. The spectral beam combining system of claim 2 wherein each of the laser beams is further characterized by a different input angle relative to the input surface.
5. The spectral beam combining system of claim 1 wherein each of the plurality of input fibers are operable to deliver a laser beam, wherein each of the laser beams are parallel to each of the other laser beams and characterized by a different wavelength.
6. The spectral beam combining system of claim 1 wherein the input port comprises a reflective surface operable to direct light from the input surface of the input port to the third surface of the prism body.
7. The spectral beam combining system of claim 6 wherein the reflective surface is oriented at a constant angle relative to the input surface.
8. The spectral beam combining system of claim 6 wherein the reflective surface is defined by an angle relative to the input surface and operable to partially collimate the light.
9. The spectral beam combining system of claim 6 wherein the reflective surface is operable to direct the light by total internal reflection.
10. The spectral beam combining system of claim 6 wherein the reflective surface comprises a high-reflectivity coating.
11. The spectral beam combining system of claim 6 wherein a second protective cap is disposed over the reflective surface.
12. The spectral beam combining system of claim 1 wherein the collimating surface comprises a curved surface.
13. The spectral beam combining system of claim 1 wherein the collimating surface comprises a highly reflective coating on a portion of the third surface of the prism body.
14. The spectral beam combining system of claim 1 wherein the third surface of the prism body and the output surface are substantially aligned.
15. The spectral beam combining system of claim 1 wherein the output surface comprises an anti-reflective coating.
16. The spectral beam combining system of claim 1 wherein the protective cap defines a gas-filled gap between the immersion grating and the protective cap.
17. The spectral beam combining system of claim 1 wherein the prism body comprises a single piece of optical glass.
18. The spectral beam combining system of claim 1 further comprising an imaging element optically coupled to the input surface of the prism body.